- Clear (Spirit album)
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Clear 
Studio album by Spirit Released October 1969 Recorded February 9, 1968 - August 27, 1969 Genre Psychedelic rock, Progressive rock Length 42:42 (original)
55:49 (1996 reissue)Label Ode Producer Lou Adler Spirit chronology The Family That Plays Together
(1968)Clear
(1969)Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus
(1970)Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
linkChristgau C+ link Clear was the third Spirit album, written largely in the wake of their work on the soundtrack to the 1968 film Model Shop. Several of the band members have said that they felt there wasn't enough time for developing the album after releasing two albums in 1968, recording a soundtrack and constantly touring, but a growing number of fans feel that it is one of their finest, if not the finest, album the group would ever make. Possibly because of the rushed work on the album, there is a larger reliance upon instrumental work and the jazz backgrounds of several members than any of their other albums, perhaps most exemplified by the three instrumental pieces penned by John Locke. It also features their sound gaining depth and sprawling out even more than it previously had, as they even attempt everything from the bluesy "So Little Time To Fly" to tightly constructed multi-part songs like "Dark Eyed Woman" and "New Dope In Town". Stylistically, "Clear" is a precursor to the band's next album, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.
"So Little Time To Fly" was covered by legendary British rockers Status Quo as "Time to Fly".
The original Ode Records recording of Clear would be later restored by Sony in 1996. The second edition includes both sides of the 1984 single, the song "Fuller Brush Man" (which hasn't appeared elsewhere), and a piece entitled "Coral", which is also available on the Model Shop soundtrack but is present here in an elaborately produced version.
Contents
Track listing
All songs written by Jay Ferguson except noted.
No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. "Dark Eyed Woman" California, Ferguson 3:07 2. "Apple Orchard" Andes, California, Cassidy 4:07 3. "So Little Time to Fly" California, Locke 2:49 4. "Ground Hog" 3:04 5. "Cold Wind" 3:24 6. "Policeman's Ball" 2:21 7. "Ice" Locke 5:52 8. "Give a Life, Take a Life" Adler, California 3:23 9. "I'm Truckin'" Locke 2:25 10. "Clear" California, Ferguson 4:09 11. "Caught" Locke 3:10 12. "New Dope in Town" Andes, California, Cassidy, Ferguson, Locke 4:24 13. "1984 (a-side of Ode single ZS7 128) †" California 3:37 14. "Sweet Stella Baby (b-side of Ode single ZS7 128) †" 2:55 15. "Fuller Brush Man †" 3:19 16. "Coral †" Cassidy, Locke 3:05 - † - CD reissue bonus tracks
Personnel
Spirit
- Mark Andes – Bass, Vocals
- Randy California – Bass, Guitar, Vocals
- Ed Cassidy – Percussion, Drums
- Jay Ferguson – Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
- John Locke – Keyboards
Production
- Lou Adler – Producer
- Vic Anesini – Mastering, Mixing
- Stachowaik – Engineer
- Steiner – Engineer
- Weinbang – Engineer
- Adam Block – Project Director
- Jeff Smith – Design
- Tom Wilkes – Design
- Guy Webster – Photography
Charts
Album
Year Chart Position 1969 Billboard 200 55 References
Randy California • Jay Ferguson • Mark Andes • John Locke • Ed Cassidy • Mike Nile
Al Staehely • Chris Staehely • Matt Andes • Barry Keene • George Valuck • Dave Waterbury • Larry Knight • Steve Loria • Scott MonahanStudio Albums Spirit (1968) • The Family That Plays Together (1968) • Clear (1969) • Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970) • Feedback (1972) • Spirit of '76 (1975) • Son of Spirit (1975) • Farther Along (1976) • Future Games (1977) • ...Potato Land (1981) • The Thirteenth Dream (1984) • Rapture in the Chambers (1988) • Tent of Miracles (1990) • California Blues (1996)Live Albums Live Spirit (1977) • Live at la Paloma (1993) • Live from the Time Coast (2004)Compilations The Best Of Spirit (1973) • Time Circle, 1968–1972 (1991) • Chronicles, 1967–1992 (1992) • The Mercury Years (1997) • Cosmic Smile (2000) • Sea Dream (2002) • Blues From the Soul (2003) • Son of America (2005) • Original Potato Land (2006) • Salvation – the Spirit of '74 (2007) • Rock and Roll Planet...1977–1979 (2008) • California Blues Redux (2009)Soundtrack Model Shop (1968)Categories AlbumsCategories:- Spirit albums
- 1969 albums
- Epic Records albums
- Legacy Recordings albums
- Albums produced by Lou Adler
- English-language albums
- Ode Records albums
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